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View Full Version : Want to buy first SV - would you buy from a distance sight unseen?

willf
21-03-15, 10:57 PM
Hi guys, looking to get a SV, am I mad for going off a AutoTrader ad, and buying without seeing it? I'm in London and bike is in Aberdeen.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201503101599908

Sorry for basic question...

Thanks

Will
carelesschucca
21-03-15, 11:38 PM
NO!!!

I wouldn't buy any bike unseen!
carelesschucca
21-03-15, 11:40 PM
I dunno how many of the Aberdeen guys still come on the forum, maybe if they're still about you could ask one to go check.

if not there will be other bikes nearer to you that you'll be able to go and see.
willf
22-03-15, 03:11 AM
Ok thanks for advice
aesmith
22-03-15, 08:21 AM
That's too much for a 15 year old bike with 30,000 miles. Bikes can be more expensive up here as there are fewer available.
Biker Biggles
22-03-15, 11:09 AM
You should be able to find several old curvys to look at in and around London for that sort of money or less.Stick a post in the wanted section on here and you may get something.Id budget 6-800£
willf
22-03-15, 11:19 AM
Thanks guys - much appreciated advice.

I have wanted an SV for years, now thinking of a blast through France this summer - hoping they tour OK! V-strom probably more suited, but more expensive and less attractive somehow.
otaylor38
22-03-15, 11:50 AM
I wouldnt buy anything without seeing it.

I've been to far too many bikes with really good descriptions and pictures, to find theyre actually nothing like. Their immaculate (or words to that effect) arent necessarily the same as yours.

Even drove to London once for a CX500 described as all original, to find all the parts are mixed up off different year bikes, n that was a dealer promising its worth the 4 hour drive each way.
sheepracer
22-03-15, 12:58 PM
Spend 1k and you should expect a late model carby 52 plate with no more than 15k miles. There are minters out there. Worth calling Gloucster bike specialists - I picked up a 2000 model in blue with 8k miles that needed a gear lever and foot hanger. Only £750👍


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squirrel_hunter
22-03-15, 01:19 PM
I have bought a few bikes unseen over the years so its not an issue to me, but it depends why you are buying them...

However I always factor in the distance and unless its really special then I have limits to travel. And personally London to Aberdeen is not worth it for a SV650 like that. Keep looking and one will turn up closer to home.
figaro
22-03-15, 01:59 PM
Yes, buy it. Offer him £750, see what he says. You can see from the pics it's been looked after.
johnnyrod
22-03-15, 09:23 PM
Never, ever, ever, ever, ever buy a bike you haven't test ridden. Ever.

Ever

At all

Ever
figaro
22-03-15, 10:21 PM
Never, ever, ever, ever, ever buy a bike you haven't test ridden. Ever.

Ever

At all

Ever

In the last 35 or so years I've owned over a hundred bikes, and of all those bikes I only test rode...one. And that was only because I was swapping bikes and the other guy wanted to test mine. And the bike I got, the only one I've ever tested, proved to be one of the most unreliable bikes I've owned. Test the bikes all you like, it doesn't really tell you anything that you can't tell with one glance.
willf
23-03-15, 12:32 PM
Is this mileage not worth the hassle (£1500 43k): http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=215584

(Resale hassle as much as anything)

?
SvNewbie
23-03-15, 02:13 PM
Go look at Tony's (FG1) bike. If it's not worth the trip I'll buy you a pint.

Sitting around in a garage for months at a time can be just as bad for a bike as doing a lot of miles. He keeps his bike in very good condition. If you keep a £1500 bike for 2 years how much would you expect to resell it for? Anything that starts and runs will get £800.
sheepracer
23-03-15, 02:28 PM
Save the hassle- buy Mad Monks curvy - that is a bargsin.


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figaro
23-03-15, 04:56 PM
Mine's got 43k, and I paid £200 for it. The bike's good for that kind of mileage but £1500 is waay too much.
bobbleheadbarne
23-03-15, 05:55 PM
2004...1000cc 8000 miles good condition. Yours for 2700
SvNewbie
23-03-15, 07:08 PM
Mine's got 43k, and I paid £200 for it. The bike's good for that kind of mileage but £1500 is waay too much.

If you have a treasure trove of running SV's kicking around for £200 then I'll take 2 please. One for a track bike and the other for spares.

Back in the real world, an engine alone which is claimed to be running usually goes for £250-400.
willf
23-03-15, 09:32 PM
Hi Sheepracer, Mad Monks curvy - thanks for the tip - but it's an S model, and I'm looking for something less aggressive, and it's a long way from London.

Thanks figaro, but if you were to sell your bike I'm guessing you wouldn't advertise it for £200! Well done on getting a great deal.

SvNewbie I agree it's as bad to be sat still for a number of years, but residual values are important if I want to trade it in in 12-18 months. I'm not going to be doing many miles, but 43k (plus 2-6k I add to it) will always look a lot to the next buyer.

bobbleheadbarne thanks but I'm after a 650 for as little as possible.

Thanks for all your input

Will
willf
23-03-15, 09:50 PM
FML... Carole Nash quote 2 days ago £180 third party only... today £300

Kills the economics of a summer toy

Insurance is such a scam
willf
23-03-15, 10:03 PM
OK Bennets £106. For now!
figaro
24-03-15, 04:41 AM
bobbleheadbarne thanks but I'm after a 650 for as little as possible.

So you want good residuals and you want to pay nowt for it? Good luck with that.
willf
24-03-15, 11:03 AM
Good residuals = not losing too much if/ when you come to sell it.

I don't have much budget for the purchase

I have very limited SV knowledge

I'm trying to not overpay
SvNewbie
24-03-15, 11:13 AM
Worrying about the resale value of a bike always seemed mad to me. One slippy roundabout and all of the care in the world has gone out of the window. I'll leave that to the GS riders with second mortgages on their bikes.

The cheapest bike, without serious known issues, you are going to pick up is in the £600-800 region. That goes for just about any Japanese or British bike. Because at that price they are cheaper than train fares. If 12-18 months of good riding isn't worth a couple of hundred pounds to you then maybe you should try a different hobby.
otaylor38
24-03-15, 07:00 PM
Worrying about the resale value of a bike always seemed mad to me. One slippy roundabout and all of the care in the world has gone out of the window. I'll leave that to the GS riders with second mortgages on their bikes.

The cheapest bike, without serious known issues, you are going to pick up is in the £600-800 region. That goes for just about any Japanese or British bike. Because at that price they are cheaper than train fares. If 12-18 months of good riding isn't worth a couple of hundred pounds to you then maybe you should try a different hobby.

Its all relevant though.

£15k is a hell of a lot of money to me,my £3.5k bike is, but £15k to somebody else can be nearly pocket change.

All depends on an individuals circumstances doesnt it (:
willf
24-03-15, 09:09 PM
If 12-18 months of good riding isn't worth a couple of hundred pounds to you then maybe you should try a different hobby.

Mate I don't mind couple hundred pounds dpereciation. I'm factoring in a screen, insurance, maybe a tyre, C&S, soft luggage, etc, etc. Maybe I didn't express myself well. Really appreciate everyone's help.